Steering Adaptor for Suction Pool Cleaner

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for inducing variable randomized patterns of traversing a floor of a swimming pool by a suction cleaner device; said apparatus comprising a water flow driven mechanism for axial rotation of a pool cleaner hose; said hose located between a suction pump inlet and said suction cleaner device.

The present invention relates to suction devices for automatically scavenging debris from the bottom of swimming pools and, more particularly to means for randomizing the path followed by such devices.

BACKGROUND

Swimming pool suction cleaners, which randomly roam the bottom of a pool, have become a common feature of domestic swimming pools. Such cleaners are connected by a hose to the pool filtration system and motion of the cleaning head of the device [in some systems] is imparted by pulsating the flow of water through the hose. Other means for achieving some form of motion over the pool bottom surface have included intermittent or a brief turning of the hose, for example at the switching on of the filtration suction pump, or a “flicking” action induced by release of spring energy.

The effect of these pulses or other dynamic inputs on the path taken by the cleaning head is a function of the hose length, its curl-set, the currents in the water and the shape of the pool. Since these parameters are fairly constant, the path of these cleaners tends to be repetitive and areas of the pool floor may be left uncleaned. For the same reasons, at certain corners and at steps, the cleaner may become stuck for lengthy periods.

Moreover, in systems where a hose is fixed to the cleaning head tends to have predominantly sides of the hose continuously scraping along the sides of a pool, with the upper side predominantly exposed to ultraviolet radiation, with the result of excessive wear and deterioration leading ultimately to premature failure of the hose.

It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for inducing variable randomized patterns of traversing a floor of a swimming pool by a suction cleaner device; said apparatus comprising a water flow driven mechanism for axial rotation of a pool cleaner hose; said hose located between a suction pump inlet and said suction cleaner device.

Preferably, said at least one connector element comprises an angled connector; said connector comprising an inlet pipe end and an outlet pipe end, respective axes of said inlet pipe end and said outlet pipe end intersecting at an angle.

Preferably, said at least one connector element comprises said angled connector and a suction hose,

Preferably, said apparatus is installed coaxially between an outlet end of said suction hose and said suction pump inlet; said apparatus provided with an inlet pipe connected to said outlet end of said hose and an outlet pipe connected to said pump inlet.

Preferably, said outlet pipe of said apparatus is connected to a non-rotating first chamber; said first chamber housing a turbine rotationally reactive to said water flow.

Preferably, an output shaft of said turbine is connected to a reduction gear train; said gear train adapted to rotate said inlet pipe.

Preferably, said reduction gear comprising at least one input worm drive and an output spur gear.

Preferably, said inlet pipe is concentrically mounted to a disc; said disc rotationally mounted to said first chamber; said disc provided with a ring gear meshing with said output spur gear.

Preferably, said outlet pipe is provided with circumferential apertures; said apertures provided with closure means for selectively opening one or more of said orifices to an inflow of water so as to vary said flow of water impacting said turbine.

Preferably, said gear train is substantially enclosed in a gear train housing adjoining said first chamber.

Preferably, said at least one input worm drive includes a primary and a secondary worm drive.

Preferably, an angled connector element is interposed between an outlet port of said suction cleaner device and an inlet end of said suction hose.

Preferably, an inlet end of said angled connector is attached via a swivelling connection to said outlet port.

Preferably, said angled connector is arranged with respective axes of said inlet end and an outlet end intersecting at a supplementary angle in a range of 15 degrees to 45 degrees.

Preferably, said apparatus is mounted within said suction cleaner device; said apparatus adapted for rotation of an outlet port of said suction cleaner device, said outlet port comprising said angled connector.

Preferably, a flow of water induced by said suction pump is arranged to impact on a turbine mounted between an intake orifice of said suction cleaner device and said outlet port.

Preferably, an output shaft of said turbine is connected to a reduction gear train; said gear train adapted to rotate said outlet port.

Preferably, said gear train comprises at least one input worm drive and an output spur gear.

Preferably, an inlet end of said outlet port is concentrically mounted to an output disc; said disc rotationally mounted within said suction cleaner device; said disc provided with a ring gear meshing with said output spur gear.

Preferably, said suction cleaner device communicates with said suction pump via a flexible suction hose.

Preferably, an inlet end of said suction hose is attached via a swivelling connection to said outlet port.

Preferably an outlet end of said suction hose is affixed to an inlet pipe of said suction pump.

Preferably, said angled connector is arranged with respective axes of an inlet end and an outlet end intersecting at a supplementary angle in a range of 15 degrees to 45 degrees.

Preferably, said rotation is at a rate in a range of 1 to 6 revolutions per hour.

Preferably, said rotation is uni-directional,

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method for randomizing traversing of a swimming pool floor by a head of a suction cleaner device connected to a suction pump inlet by a suction hose; said method including the steps of:

-   -   (a) interposing a suction hose rotation inducing apparatus         coaxially between an outlet end of said suction hose and an         inlet pipe of said suction pump,     -   (b) interposing an angled connector between an inlet end of said         suction hose and an outlet port of said suction cleaner device;         said angled connector affixed to said suction hose and attached         via a swivelling connection to said outlet port.

Preferably, said rotation inducing apparatus is driven by a flow of water impacting on a turbine; said turbine activating a gear train adapted to induce a torque between said inlet pipe of said suction pump and said suction hose.

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method for randomizing traversing of a swimming pool floor by a head of a suction cleaner device connected to a suction pump inlet by a suction hose; said method including the steps of:

-   -   (a) including a rotation inducing apparatus within said head of         said suction cleaner device,     -   (b) providing said suction cleaner device with an outlet port         comprising an angled connector,     -   (c) causing said rotation inducing apparatus to rotate said         angled connector.

Preferably, said rotation inducing apparatus is driven by a flow of water impacting on a turbine; said turbine activating a gear train adapted to induce a torque between said head of said suction cleaner device and said angled connector.

In still a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of reducing deterioration of a suction hose of a suction cleaner device for a swimming pool; said method including the steps of:

-   -   (a) interposing a mechanism for continuous axial rotation of         said hose between an inlet pipe leading to a suction pump and         said suction cleaner device,     -   (b) utilizing flow of water through said hose to drive a         turbine; said turbine inducing a torque via a reducing gear         train between said inlet pipe and said hose.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method for randomizing traversing of a swimming pool floor by a head of a suction cleaner device connected to a suction pump inlet by a suction hose; said method including the step of:

-   -   i) interposing an angled connector between an inlet end of said         suction hose and an outlet port of said suction cleaner device;         said angled connector affixed to said suction hose and attached         via a swivelling connection to said outlet port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a swimming pool, a pool water filtering suction pump and the head of a suction cleaner device connected to the pump by a suction hose, with a rotation apparatus interposed between the hose and the inlet pipe for the pump.

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the geared, water flow driven mechanism of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an angled connector between an end of the hose and the outlet of the scavenging head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the head of a suction cleaner device provided with a rotation apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an perspective exploded view of a further embodiment of a geared water flow driven mechanism,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the geared water driven mechanism of FIG. 5 when assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Preferred Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 1, a swimming pool 10 is provided with a suction pump 12, drawing water from a suction cleaner device 14 via hose 16. Hose 16 is normally directly connected to a pump inlet pipe 18 at a side wall 20 of swimming pool 10, but in this first preferred embodiment of the invention, hose 16 is connected to an inlet pipe 22 of a geared, water flow driven mechanism 24. Mechanism 24 is in turn, connected by its outlet pipe 26 to inlet pipe 18 of pump 12. The inlet end 15 of suction hose 16 is connected, for example as a press fit, to an angled connector 17, which in turn is attached, again for example as a press fit, to the swivelling outlet port 19 of suction cleaner device 14.

Mechanism 24 provides for rotation of inlet pipe 22 together with hose 16, relative to outlet pipe 26 and outlet port 19 so as to induce axial rotation of hose 16 and of angled connector 17. Preferably, rotation is at a rate of between one and six revolutions per hour. By this means the curl-set of hose 16, together with the angled connector, continually redirect the suction cleaner head to all areas of the pool floor 21. The rotation induced by mechanism 20 in effect acts as power steering for the suction cleaner device.

With reference now to FIG. 2, outlet pipe 26 is rigidly connected to a first chamber 28 housing a turbine in the form of a paddle wheel 30. Paddle wheel 30 is forced to rotate by flow of water (as indicated by dashed line A-B) drawn in trough inlet pipe 32 and passing through chamber 28. A first worm gear 34 is mounted to the rotation shaft of paddle wheel 30, and drives first pinion 36 mounted on shaft 38. Shaft 38 also carries a second worm gear 40, which in its turn drives second pinion 42. Pinion 42 drives an output spur gear 44 via shaft 46. Shaft 46 passes through the end 48 of chamber 28 and through cover plate 50 (when cover plate 50 is assembled to charter 28) to mesh with a ring gear 52 provided at the periphery of output disc 54. Inlet pipe 32 is rigidly mounted to output disc 54, so that when paddle wheel 30 rotates and drives the gear train made up of the worm gears, pinions, spur and ring gear, inlet pipe 32 rotates relative to outlet pipe 26.

Preferably, output disc 54 is enclosed by outer cover 55, provided with a central aperture 57 through which inlet pipe 32 projects when the components are assembled together.

Outlet pipe 26 may be provided around a section of its lo circumference with a number of apertures 59. A slip ring 60, is adapted to partially encircle outlet pipe 26 at the level of apertures 59. Slip ring 60 has a gap 61 which is such as to expose all of apertures 59 when the ring is rotated about inlet pipe 26 to a first appropriate position, or fully cover all of apertures 59 when rotated to a second appropriate position. Thus slip ring 60 may be adjusted to expose none, one or more, or all of apertures 59 to an inflow of water created by suction in outlet pipe 26 by the suction pump 12. This allows an adjustment of the flow of water impacting the paddle wheel 30 and hence the rate of rotation of inlet pipe 32 relative to outlet pipe 26.

Angled connector 17 is arranged such that the axes of ,its inlet and outlet ends intersect to form a supplementary angle between them of α°. The value of a preferably lies in the range of 15° to 45°.

It will be appreciated that the rotation of the hose tends to distribute wear of the hose due to scuffing on the sides of the pool, rather than having that wear concentrated primarily along sides of the hose, A particular further advantage is that an upper side of the hose is not continually subjected to the effect of ultra-violet radiation.

In at least one form of this embodiment, inlet pipe 32 and outlet pipe 26 are so formed as to allow a push-fit connection between hose 16 and inlet pipe 32, and between pump inlet 18 and outlet pipe 26, so that the mechanism can be readily retro-fitted to existing pool cleaning equipment.

Second Preferred Embodiment

In a second preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to FIG. 4, the head 100 of a suction cleaner device 110 for the floor 112 of a swimming pool incorporates a rotation mechanism 102 comprising a turbine and reduction gear train substantially as described above for the first preferred embodiment.

In this embodiment also, the turbine is activated by flow of water entering the underside 104 of head 100 and passing through hose 116 under the influence of a swimming pool filtration system suction pump (not shown). In this embodiment of the invention the output disc driven by the paddle wheel of the turbine via the reducing gear train, carries the inlet end 118 of an outlet port 120. Outlet port 120 is in the form of the angled connector previously described. Hose 116 is attached via a swivelling connection to the output end 122 of the port 120, and its output end is affixed as a press fit to the inlet pipe (not shown) at the wall of the swimming pool leading to the suction pump.

Third Preferred Embodiment

In this embodiment also, the rotation mechanism is incorporated in the head of a suction cleaner device 110 as described above for the second preferred embodiment. In this case however, hose 116 is affixed to output end 122 of outlet port 120 so that hose 116 is caused to rotate axially as port 120 is rotated by mechanism 102. The outlet end of hose 116 is, in this embodiment, rotationally connected to the inlet pipe (not shown) at the wall of the swimming pool leading to the suction pump.

Fourth Preferred Embodiment

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, this embodiment of the invention is a variation on the First Preferred Embodiment described above and like features in FIGS. 5 and 6 are similarly numbered as those of FIG. 2 with the addition of one hundred.

In this embodiment as seen in FIG. 6, the drive mechanism is enclosed by first body section 128, second body section 129 and third body section 131. Cover plate 150 is in this embodiment integral with third body section 131. For clarity, FIG. 5 shows only first body section 138 which is integral with outlet pipe 126.

In this embodiment also a flow of water, induced by a suction pump (not shown), indicated by arrows, passes through inlet pipe 132 to impact and urge rotation of paddle wheel 130. Rotation of paddle wheel 130 in like manner to that of the First Preferred Embodiment, sets in motion a reduction gear train made up of first worm gear 134, first pinion 136, second worm gear 140, second pinion. 142 to finally urge output disc 154 into rotation. However in this embodiment the teeth of output disc 154 are set internally in a recess 160 of disc 154.

Again it will be understood, that by attaching outlet pipe to the inlet opening of a pool filtration system at the side wall of a swimming pool, and attaching a pool cleaner suction hose to inlet pipe 132, the hose will be urged into rotation.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 

1. An apparatus for inducing variable randomized patterns of traversing a floor of a swimming pool by a suction cleaner device; said apparatus comprising a water flow driven mechanism for axial rotation of a pool cleaner suction hose; said hose located between a suction pump inlet and said suction cleaner device.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one angled connector element connected to the suction cleaner device and the suction hose.
 3. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said apparatus is installed coaxially between an outlet end of said suction_hose and said suction pump inlet; said apparatus provided with an inlet pipe connected to said outlet end of said hose and an outlet pipe connected to said pump inlet.
 4. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said outlet pipe is connected to a non-rotating first chamber; said first chamber housing a turbine rotationally reactive to said water flow.
 5. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein an output shaft of said turbine is connected to a reduction gear train; said gear train adapted to rotate said inlet pipe.
 6. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said reduction gear comprising at least one input worm drive and an output spur gear.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said inlet pipe is concentrically mounted to a disc; said disc rotationally mounted to said first chamber; said disc provided with a ring gear meshing with said output spur gear.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said outlet pipe is provided with circumferential apertures; said apertures provided with closure means for selectively opening one or more of said orifices to an inflow of water so as to vary said flow of water impacting said turbine.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said gear train is substantially enclosed in a gear train housing adjoining said first chamber.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one input worm drive includes a primary and a secondary worm drive.
 11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein an angled connector element is interposed between an outlet port of said suction cleaner device and an inlet end of said suction hose.
 12. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein an inlet end of said angled connector is attached via a swivelling connection to said outlet port.
 13. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said angled connector is arranged with respective axes of said inlet end and an outlet end intersecting at a supplementary angle in a range of 15 degrees to 45 degrees.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is mounted within said suction cleaner device; said apparatus adapted for rotation of an outlet port of said suction cleaner device; said outlet port comprising said angled connector.
 15. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein a flow of water induced by said suction pump is arranged to impact on a turbine mounted between an intake orifice of said suction cleaner device and said outlet port.
 16. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein an output shaft of said turbine is connected to a reduction gear train; said gear train adapted to rotate said outlet port.
 17. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said gear train comprises at least one input worm drive and an output spur gear.
 18. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein an inlet end of said outlet port is concentrically mounted to an output disc; said disc rotationally mounted within said suction cleaner device; said disc provided with a ring gear meshing with said output spur gear.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said suction cleaner device communicates with said suction pump via a flexible suction hose.
 20. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein an inlet end of said suction hose is attached via a swivelling connection to said outlet port.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein an outlet end of said suction hose is affixed to an inlet pipe of said suction pump.
 22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said angled connector is arranged with respective axes of an inlet end and an outlet end intersecting at a supplementary angle in a range of 15 degrees to 45 degrees.
 23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rotation is at a rate in a range of 1 to 6 revolutions per hour.
 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rotation is uni-directional.
 25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hose is flexible.
 26. A method for randomizing traversing of a swimming pool floor by a head of a suction cleaner device connected to a suction pump inlet by a suction hose; said method including the steps of: (a) interposing a suction hose rotation inducing apparatus coaxially between an outlet end of said suction hose and an inlet pipe of said suction pump, (b) interposing an angled connector between an inlet end of said suction hose and an outlet port of said suction cleaner device; said angled connector affixed to said suction hose and attached via a swivelling connection to said outlet port.
 27. The method of claim 27 wherein said rotation inducing apparatus is driven by a flow of water impacting on a turbine; said turbine activating a gear train adapted to induce a torque between said inlet pipe of said suction pump and said suction hose.
 28. A method for randomizing traversing of a swimming pool floor by a head of a suction cleaner device connected to a suction pump inlet by a suction hose; said method including the steps of: (a) including a rotation inducing apparatus within said head of said suction cleaner device, (b) providing said suction cleaner device with an outlet port comprising an angled connector, (c) causing said rotation inducing apparatus to rotate said angled connector.
 29. The method of claim 29 wherein said rotation inducing apparatus is driven by a flow of water impacting on a turbine; said turbine activating a gear train adapted to induce a torque between said head of said suction cleaner device and said angled connector.
 30. A method of reducing deterioration of a suction hose of a suction cleaner device for a swimming pool; said method including the steps of: (a) interposing a mechanism for continuous axial rotation of said hose between an inlet pipe leading to a suction pump and said suction cleaner device, (b) utilizing flow of water through said hose to drive a turbine; said turbine inducing a torque via a reducing gear train between said inlet pipe and said hose.
 31. A rotation inducing apparatus for a hose and connector element of a swimming pool suction cleaner device as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 